Tröegs Mad Elf: PW's 50-Beer Countdown to Philly Beer Week, Day 30

Welcome to PW's 50-Beer Countdown to Philly Beer Week! Every day from now through the Opening Tap ceremonies on May 31, we'll be getting in the mood by spotlighting a different great craft brew that's been poured by one or more Philly Beer Week participating venues.

I don’t know if Satanists or Pagans or something are getting together in the woods each winter to bust cherries, but I DO know that each winter they — and everyone else — are scrambling to get Tröegs Mad Elf ale, which is the sort of beer you’d get if a bunch of drunk Pagans brewed the most cherry-poppin’ beer they could imagine. That, and the devil himself would have to have thought of adding honey to the mix. So, yeah. Once done stretching analogies as far as possible, you’ll find yourself struggling with the insane 11 percent ABV, even as you revel in the sweet sin of this beer’s fruity nectar. Those nutty Tröegs people, they know how to do it, don’t they? Oh, and here’s a secret not many people know since folks scoop this up every winter and drink it ASAP: This beer ages pretty well. If you have a few bottles, don’t be shy about stashing them away for a few years. Tröegs Mad Elf may still be available at Kyber Pass Pub, and this winter will be in most fine establishments.